

COiWIGHT DEPOSIT. 


f 



















A STAGE BABY 






i 



”DonH — don’t be a gin dope !” 


P. 32 



Copyright 1915 
By Alexander McKenzie 




Set up and Electrotyped, May, 1915 
Plates by Holmes Electro Co. 

^ o, 

JUL 14 1915 

©CI.A401900 


To . 

E. F. Weiler 
Bangor, Maine 









■; 


»;-V '■ 





CONTENTS 


PAGE 


I. 

Little Chris . . . ‘. . 

11 

II. 

Setting the Stage . . . 

, 40 

III. 

Before the Lights . . . 

, 56 

IV. 

The Part of a Villain . 

, 73 

V. 

A Return Engagement , 

, 83 



A 



A Stage Baby 



PART I 


LITTLE CHRIS 

Op ALL the troupers that I have ushered 
on before the lights, or doped up their lines 
with a melancholy bit of my own sagacity in 
a moment of dire need, I want to ring up the 
curtain, right here, with Christine Hampton 
out on center. 

"Little Chris” was a comic opera star. Like 
troupers in general, she had a way about her 
that was a good deal like the flavor of chile 
con carne — only to be liked by degrees ; be- 
cause, mind you, theatrical people are simply 
outrageous when it comes to being inconsist- 
antly impulsive and hot-headed. And as for 
being "to the manner born,” as they say, how 
much nearer could you come to it when I tell 
you that she first saw the light of day on an 
old "prop” lounge in a dingy cross-road play 
house away out in Ohio, and made her first 
public appearance on the stage when but ten 
hours old ? How’s that, you ask ? Well, let 
me explain. Doctor arrives at ten-thirty, A. 
M., and, to the gentle fragrance of boiled 
cabbage and onions issuing from a small eat- 
ing house in the rear of the place, pronounces 
Little Chris born. I have it on good evidence 
that that day was a day of universal rejoicing 


11 


A STAGE BABY 


for the troup, for a real, live baby was wanted 
in the cast badly ; so, consequently, she was 
a welcomed addition to the company. She 
was placed immediately upon the pay-roll 
without making so much as a scratch for a 
contract. At precisely eight-thirty that same 
evening, in comes the tiniest, daintiest bit of 
a pink, real, live baby you ever saw, in the 
character of the infantile "Lord Perkingham, 
Baronet of Inglequest,” (a male part, you see) 
and it is recorded that this youthful actress, 
doing a part of some twenty-seven minutes 
duration, did scant justice to her character in 
after life, for she dozed continually ! So much 
for the infant life of Little Chris. 

Her father and mother had been house-boat 
artists on the Ohio and Mississippi, in the good 
old days when troupers of every sort were not 
as plentiful as they are now ; and she obtain- 
ed her musical education by sheer force of 
virtue, in parts that smacked indubitably of 
an elevated stage of soap boxes, ten minutes 
previous to the opening of the "big show,” at 
the tender age of eight years. Ah ! those 
were the days when children had to be pre- 
cocious in the fullest sense of the word. When 
you scrape away the merely mechanical side 
of an actor’s life you find a degree of flexibil- 
ity that really astonishes you : he can adapt 
himself to almost any circumstance with quite 


12 


A STAGE BABY 


amazing rapidity. So with Little Chris ; and 
I can easily fancy a bright faced little miss in 
pinafore and golden curls— real golden, mind 
you— doing her childish turn, with her always 
busy mind reverting to the possible box office 
receipts for the evening, while she sang and 
danced like a veritable undine on a frolic. 

I met Little Chris shortly after I had taken 
upon myself the obligations of an actor for 
the remainder of my days. She was then but 
eighteen, and had good looks enough to put a 
comic opera sirene into the back row. In fact, 
she was just as fetchy off, as she was on the 
stage ; and when she stepped down to the 
lights in her best make-up you could almost 
feel that thrill of expectancy going through 
the house, from the gallery down. And per- 
haps she couldn’t get them all going with her 
vivacious temperament, too ! 

She was playing that season in stock, in a 
small town on the Hudson. I happened to be 
showing a one night stand just across the riv- 
er, but went over to see the matinee, and so 
stopped to supper with the leading man. At 
once, Chris Hampton (who was then doing a 
line of comedy work) and I scraped up a 
decidedly happy acquaintance together. The 
life that drifts into yours when you are lonely 
is remembered, as the rainbow is remembered 
when you’ve seen it pictured against the dark 


13 


A STAGE BABY 


eastern sky. Thus, when we met again, two 
years later, at a junction in Texas, where we 
were both simultaneously making overtures 
to railway coffee and sandwiches, I had not 
forgotten her. I had discerned, from time to 
time, through the breezy pages of the "Old 
Reliable”, that she was advancing into leads. 
When she came in the early part of September 
to the Lyric Theatre, in Hoboken, where re- 
hearsals were going on, I was instructed to 
cast her with respect to my own option in the 
matter when I should hear her voice. 

Well, we were quite undecided for some few 
days. We would have placed her as Primo, 
but Deedy Clarkins, who was taking us out as 
manager, had in mind a star of the previous 
season who had already signed up. So, amid a 
vast stack of theatre trunks at the foot of 
Liberty Street, where we were all jumbled to- 
gether the following Saturday night. Sissy 
Burrows wired us saying she would join the 
show in Wheeling, our opening stand. That 
settled Little Chris for second place in the 
cast, much as I had wished to the contrary. 
However, I knew Sis to be an exceptionally 
clever woman, having seen what she could 
put up some four years ago when we both 
went out with a Gilbert and Sullivan reper- 
toire that kept the road for eighty consecutive 
weeks. She could sing all the leading parts 


14 


^ STAGE BABY 


in all the standard light operas of the day ; 
and as for looks, why, you had only to see her 
walk into the dining-room any fine morning, 
in order to be reminded that she was, indeed, 
refreshing for tired eyes. 

Little Chris had first parts of operas down 
pretty well, too, which she handled with con- 
siderable effect in many ways, being wonder- 
fully versatile. Off the stage she was both 
amusing and interesting. And, let me add, I 
am not inferring, either, that troupers as a 
rule are notoriously noted for their abundance 
of chronic over-insipidness, as regards being 
both entertaining and interesting off the 
stage. It is not congenial with their mental 
equipoise. There are moments when a player 
may be found languishing, but these occasions 
are rare. And Little Chris, with her ability 
to charm, proved a gigantic hit from the start. 
When we came to know her better, there was 
every reason to conclude her a top-notcher at 
no distant day— except for one failing. 

I was standing by the board, viewing a 
final rehearsal, when Deedy passed. He gave 
me a quiet tap on the shoulder, and pointed to 
the center of the stage, where Little Chris 
was doing a song from one of our own pro- 
ductions, "Wonderland.” 

"Jopp,” he said, "I want you to look after 
that girl this season.” 


15 


A STAGE BABY 


I stared. "Look after her, Deedy ?” 

"Haven’t you noticed anything?” he asked. 

I looked in the direction of center stage. "I 
have noticed nothing,” I returned. Then I 
stopped in amazement. Deedy never spoke 
in this manner unless he meant something by 
it. I was astounded. It did not seem possible 
that this girl was dabbling with stimulants 
in order to get through with her work ! 

The manager, after another glance out at 
center, bit the end from a stogie, and went to 
the other side. I peered out through the 
wings at Little Chris. She did not look a very 
imposing representation of the failing under 
consideration ; but, let me tell you, I had not 
known actresses all these years without be- 
coming thoroughly in touch with many of their 
individual failings. Yes, Deedy was right in 
his intimation ; beneath her make-up she was 
extraordinarily flushed. This was a discovery 
for me. To become acquainted with a friend’s 
failings is to become fully acquainted with the 
person himself ; but it’s like stirring up the 
leaves in your tea : it’s not so pleasant to see. 
Little Chris had every reason to be proud of 
herself. But there is such a thing as carrying 
about an extravagant asset, in the shape of 
an unnatural character varnish, till people re- 
alize it’s untruthful gloss. Deedy said that 
much about our big new Autumn wood drop ; 


16 


A STAGE BABY 


and, surely it is just as applicable to one’s 
characteristics, as a wood scene that’s intend- 
ed to vie with dame Nature herself. And what 
Deedy didn’t know about a drop, or about the 
failings of an actor was not worth knowing, 
after twenty-five years in the business. 

Monday was our opening night ini Wheeling. 
The piece was the tuneful "Mikado,” and we 
had a house worth looking at. Little Chris 
was a dainty, bewitching "Yum.” Away up 
in the sky seats she had them wild. I was by 
the switch when she came on, but felt a thrill 
of extreme satisfaction when she came trip- 
ping down to the lights, with her dainty little 
companions, singing : 

"Three little maids from school are we. 
Pert as a schoolgirl well can be. 

Filled to the brim with girlish glee. 

Three little maids from school !” 

I was delighted. Between acts I went up 
to her dressing room and knocked at the door. 
I found her before her mirror, getting ready 
for the second act, and humming her solo. 

I congratulated her on her work. I told her 
she was going to make good with us ; to which 
she responded with a smile of triumph. 

"Good house, Jopp,” she said. 

"Swell !” I returned. 

"Prices advanced tonight ?” 

*'Away up, and every seat working at that. 


17 


^ STAGE BABY 


Deedy can’t say there’s a loss to this opener. 
If he does, he deserves lynching.” 

Little Chris was using the puff vigorously on 
her arms and neck ; after a moment she look- 
ed up and said : 

"Jopp, between you and me I’ll be one of 
the big ones some day ; eh ? What’s the art 
for, anyway, if it can’t get me into the select 
circles of the earth ?” 

Again Deedy had scored another point. It 
was not like Little Chris to talk so of herself. 
But I returned : 

"You are— heading that way. Little Chris.” 

"I am; and they all know it, Jopp. Pretty 
soon there’ll be a wedding; eh? Nothing but 
an Earl or a Duke for me, my friend, and the 
life across the water ! Really, I never could 
think of anything else.” 

"You are joking,” said I. 

"Not much ! I mean it. Nothing short of 
the real nobility when it comes to a question 
like that. I’ve made up my mind to it.” 

"Love, with some people,” I mused, "though 
the greatest privilege given to humanity, is 
appreciated about as much as boiled onions 
eaten with squash pie. And, what about it. 
Little Chris ?” I asked. 

"There’s only one answer, Jopp,” she re- 
sponded, gayly : Love is humanity’s night- 
mare; that’s all.” 


18 


A STAGE BABY 


She laughed, and ducked head first into a 
huge trunk, where she brought to light a pair 
of dainty satin slippers which she proceeded 
to put on, talking the while. 

"There is no such thing as love,” she went 
on. "If there is. I’ve never met with it. I 
may run across the little fellow some day, but 
he’ll get a cool reception from me; just put 
that down in your note book. But, how is the 
time going, Jopp ?” 

I looked at my watch, and replied that it 
wanted seven minutes more before the cur- 
tain on act two. I went out; arid when I saw 
her again she was idly pirouetting at the rear 
of the stage, a thing of silken sheen and met- 
aphorical grace. There is certainly a special 
value placed upon stage grace as a rule, for 
the reason that it is practically out of the or- 
dinary: and, of course, it is the unusual that 
interests us mostly. Little Chris could pre- 
sent the unusual as naturally as a tulip bends 
with the breeze: and it took. But I was very 
much pained about her on account of Deedy’s 
suspicions. I was sorry he had told me. 

"All ready !” I called out: "on, Chris— cur- 
tain ! Get busy, little one.” This last as she 
darted by me. The next minute Little Chris 
was out amid the splendor of a palace setting, 
seated before her mirror, and smiling back at 
me in a mischievous manner that was a sweet 


19 


A STAGE BABY 


charm in itself. I nodded apprehensively. She 
composed her features immediately, and I 
brought the great curtain up to the music of 
the bridal scene. Deedy stood and watched 
her at my elbow. 

"I agree with you, Deedy,” said I. "She’s 
commencing the old game; I can see it. If I 
could only do something in time — sort of get 
her switched off, you knov/. . If I could ” 

"You can do nothing, Jopp,” he returned, 
quickly. "I know ’em to perfection. When 
they get on the old gin route you can’t switch 
’em. They don’t want to be switched. Good 
house tonight, Jopp.” And he turned away 
with a smile of satisfaction. 

A good house made the entire world bright 
and new for Deedy Clarkins. It made a vast 
difference in his attitude toward those about 
him. Little Chris might be as much of a gin 
dope as she pleased, but that would not effect 
the box office so long as she could keep her 
audience. Therefore, when Deedy instructed 
me to keep a watch out for her it must have 
been from purely personal interest. 

Someway or another, as the first few weeks 
went by, I took up the idea that the friend- 
ship of clever Christine Hampton, despite her 
one fault, was worth cultivating. I grant you 
that the life of the average stage manager is 
not without drawbacks of one kind or an- 


20 


A STAGE BABY 


other. There is a derogatory influence con- 
nected with the manner in which we are often 
compelled to deal with show people, in a gen- 
eral sense, because no two are cast in the 
same mold of character or opinion. The 
platonic side of a trouper’s disposition has 
never been fathomed. In fact, there may be 
a distinct and uncompromising abyss which 
can never be crossed, with regard to the ex- 
clusively moral side of the profession; and so, 
the greater the tendencies for the stage man- 
ager— who is only a man at best— to make 
enemies. Now, I managed to get along very 
well with Little Chris, and we remained the 
best of friends at all times. 

Without a character we become as flat as 
an old prop chair that has been accidently 
appropriated by an elephant. Little Chris 
possessed a character. That outrageous com- 
pliment which one or two of the wise ones 
chose to observe (no matter what the great 
nightly audience thought) was to the effect 
that she was altogether spoiled, and, as a 
consequence, insipid ! But, as I took it, there 
was gradually creeping into her professional 
life a more serious failing than mere insipid- 
ness into her private existence : the stealthy 
undermining of her career by more alcoholic 
stimulation than was good for her. Yes, 
growing intemperance was the one great fail- 


21 


^ STAGE BABY 


ing I was daily learning to recognize. She 
was careless of everything— except her art as 
she lived with it from day to day. Apart 
from this I knew her for just the beautiful 
girl she was, with a demure countenance and 
a shapely head crowned with a wealth of soft 
dark hair, and a complexion that was clear 
and healthy. 

If I saw anything in those fine eyes of her’s 
beyond their beautiful depth, it was merely 
this insipidness concerning her future moral 
welfare. I could see orbs that looked out up- 
on years of future adoration on the part of 
the world at large, and herself a helpless slave 
to the liquor habit: for that is just what it 
would amount to in the end. And it was be- 
cause I saw these things, as she did not see 
them, we disagreed at once when I started in 
with a gentle remonstrance. 

"Dickey Bartons informs me,” said Rollins, 
the comedian, one night when we were wash- 
ing up together— "Dickey informs me that 
our Little Chris has got a bit of property all 
to herself — out in St. Louis, I think.” 

"How does Dick know ?” I asked. 

"Can’t tell. Gets letters from some real 
estate concern once in a while, the girls say; 
and some one saw a tax bill of her’s yesterday 
morning. Lucky girl ; eh ?” 

I agreed with him. Lucky girl, indeed. But 


22 


A STAGE BABY 


no one seemed to be surprised at it. Her 
parents had followed the house-boat business 
for years; and it was generally acknowledged 
that there had been money in that particular 
but unsophisticated branch of the theatrical 
profession, though how hard one had to work, 
or what one had to go through, was not very 
generally taken into consideration. But they 
enjoyed life thoroughly, and got a great deal 
out of it, in their innocent way, and appreci- 
ated it, and lived long. (And that reminds me 
that I have never yet known a person that did 
not appreciate life but what wasn’t given a 
pass check for the outside before their little 
show was half over.) We speak of these days 
as the olden days, but they are still modern 
when in strict comparison with the days of 
Fielding and Goldsmith. We have underwent 
a great change since then. 

But Little Chris never declared anything; 
and we never endeavored to pry into her per- 
sonal affairs. This much we were assured of: 
when the Man-in- White walked she had never 
anything docked against her showing that 
she was indebted to the company, which was 
saying considerable; for, even the manager 
was guilty of drawing ahead of salary day. 

Sissy Burrows, who, as Rollins declared, 
was a love-feast in herself, gave me to under- 
stand that she was a trifle disappointed in the 


23 


A STAGE BABY 


way things were now going with her friend. 

I happened to be standing near her dress- 
ing-room door, endeavoring to get a few old 
spots from the knees of a pair of red worsted 
tights; so, I asked her what the trouble was. 

"Little Chris is all right, ” said Sissy; "but, 
you see, Jopp, I’m afraid we can overdo the 
'bracer’ stunt before going-on; eh? I’ve just 
been trying to get her to a realization of it; 
but she doesn’t see it that way.” 

"Still, there’s nothing wrong yet with her 
work,” I suggested, carelessly. 

"Bless your heart ! no, not yet. But that 
is no arguement in her favor.” 

"Certainly not,” I said. 

"She’s a dear old girl, and has no expensive 
habits,” said Sissy; "but take this from me, 
Jopp: she’s getting to be a real gin-dope: one 
of the regulars— just can’t let it alone.” 

"Well, what’s to be done about it ?” 

"Perhaps you can talk to her a bit, Jopp.” 

"Talk— nothing,” I observed. "What good 
will it do ? Nothing will ever come out of it. 
I know them pretty well, by this time.” 

"You don’t know what will come out of it,” 
retorted Sissy, quickly. "Just you have a 
quiet understanding with her. You know I 
abhor a gin-dope, Jopp. They’re certainly an 
accoutrement of a show that is as fragil as 
straw in a windstorm, and about as unsafe. I 


24 


A STAGE BABY 


have no use for the old stuff ! It’s no good !” 

I told her that I would give Little Chris a 
good, sound lecture the first opportunity that 
presented itself. She must not be allowed to 
go on at this rate till the end of the season. 
And with this firmly in mind I went out. 

It was Christmas Day, and we were showing 
a matinee in St Louis. The snow lay heavily 
upon the ground; and, from my dressing room 
window I could see the great, fiat flakes falling 
slowly and continuously, making it an ideal 
day in winter. It being Christmas , everybody 
was, of course, excessively happy, myself in- 
cluded. A prosperous season had 'opened up 
for us, and the two ' original light operas of 
our own producing were taking finely. Every 
indication of good business was ahead. As yet 
we had not played to one losing house; and 
Deedy was exceptionally boyish and good 
natured. With the stage all set and the stage 
hands sleeping while they waited up among 
the ropes in the stage galleries, I had volun- 
teered to go out to a near-by drug store and 
buy a box of rouge for Little Chris. When I 
returned she was sitting on her big trunk, 
quite dressed for her part, and idly kicking 
her feet about in their pink shoes. 

”I tell you, Chris,” said I, shaking the snow 
from my hat as I entered, "you ought to take 
a look at that house. There’s a Christmas 


25 


^ STAGE BABY 


matinee for you, and big afternoon prices, at 
that ! Why, the house is full, and it’s fifteen 
minutes ahead of time. We’re going to do a 
big business today 1” 

Little Chris went to the "peep” and looked 
out. "The house full— fifteen minutes ahead 
of time, sure enough !” she repeated. "I’m 
glad we’re not on half-pay with this show. 
But, oh, dear! I’m not over that cold yet, Jopp. 
I don’t feel right today. V/hat shall I do ? It’s 
awful ! My voice is working so bad lately I” 

"Have the professor lower your stuff,” said I. 

"I hate to bother him,” she returned. 

"Hate to! Nonsense! The orchestra’s a 
bully bunch ! They’ll all transpose for you. 
I’ll see him about it if you like.” 

"Will you Jopp ?” she asked, eagerly. 

"I’ll go down to the orchestra room at once.” 

"Good !” she cried, jumping up and down. 
"I hadn’t thought of it. Just tell him to lower 
all my solos, especially that andante moderate. 
Tell him I’ll do it in G. It’ll go all right for 
this afternoon, and help out wonderfully. I’ll 
work easier tonight as a consequence, Jopp.” 

When I returned from seeing the professor 
I found her putting on a beautiful make-up 
with the skill of an artist, dressed in her first 
act costume of a pink skirt and satin shoes. 
Dressing rooms were in abundance, and I had 
posted her name on a centrally located one, 


26 


A STAGE BABY 


where she was pretty much all by herself, her 
room mate having expressed a desire to locate, 
for the three days stand, with a Spanish 
dancer. I was about to hurry for my dressing 
room to get ready for a minor part, when she 
put out her hand, as though to stop me. 

"How long before overture, Jopp?” 

I told her I would call it in five minutes. 

"Then see me after the first act,” she said. 

When the first act was over I hurried to her 
room. She had already made her change, and 
the door stood open. She peeped about to me 
from where she stood beside the mirror, before 
the bright electric lights; and a peculiar in- 
stinct, redolent of our association together, 
told me she had something on her mind. Just 
now, her face lighted up with the sporadic 
happiness of the Christmastide, there was a 
certain tinge of wistful sweetness surmounting 
her heightened expression, that was par- 
ticularly pleasing to look at. After all, the 
happiness of the soul, let me remind you, is 
only too glad to express itself in the face, if 
one will only give it a half chance to make 
the life more beautiful. 

"Is it snowing outside, Jopp ?” 

"A nice, warm, light snow. Little Chris, 
melting as it falls, but still cold enough to 
keep the ground white,” I replied, seating 
myself. Her room was a cozy one, that 


27 


A STAGE BABY 


imparted tome an agreeable sense of comfort. 
The wall was hung about with her divers 
costumes for the week, and her varied assort- 
ment of street clothes were conspicuously 
displayed on hooks near the door. Very 
regular and systematic was she in everything 
about her dressing rooms. As she stood before 
me in her pink and white costume with high 
heeled shoes and short skirt, I fancied that 
the sweet Christmas season never had produced 
anything equal to the radiant expression that 
shone upon her face just then. 

"Jopp,” she said, suddenly turning to me 
again, "I want to ask you a question.” 

"A hundred of ’em. Little Chris, if you 
like. You have entire privileges.” 

"What do you think of me as regards my 
financial standing ?” 

I looked at her in amazement. Your financial 
standing. Little Chris ?” 

"Yes.” 

"Why, bless my soul, that’s a funny 
question! I do not believe you’re a highway 
robber, my dear child,” I replied, "unless 
you’ve been guilty of stealing— a heart some- 
where. Think of you ? Why, I don’t know as 
I’ve got it down in white and black particularly. 
You’ve got a good setting, and the character 
cast is all we can expect in you: which is above 
the average,” I replied, looking her over; 


28 


A STAGE BABY 


"But, as far as the money goes, what the box 
office receipts will total up to we’ve got to see.” 

"You— and the rest with the show think 
I’ve got considerable money, don’t you ?” she 
asked, with something of a winsome smile. 

"They think you’ve got a pile— somewhere.” 

"Somewhere ?” And she gave a hop up in 
the air, and shot a quick, mischievous look at 
me. "Somewhere, Jopp ?” 

”Oh, bother ! I don’t know so much about 
it. Let me see : in Oklahomo City, for instance. ” 

She nodded her pretty head several times. 
"Correct, ” she said. Out in front of the curtain 
the orchestra was getting ready for the over- 
ture to the second act. We could hear it quite 
plainly. But neither she nor I went on at the 
first, so she came over a step nearer to where 
I sat on the trunk and laid her hand on my 
arm. "It’s all a mistake, Jopp,” she said. 
"Don’t believe it when you hear it again. The 
property is worth very little as yet. I’m 
helping pay the mortgage off. My mother 
and I have owned it since my father died. I 
tell you it keeps me pretty close to shore all 
the time. Of course I manage to get work 
the year around, but when I don’t, it comes 
pretty tough. Take a long jump, for instance, 
when we close: that takes us down some, and 
makes a deep impression, to say nothing of 
what I must pay out to get with the show 


29 


c/^ STAGE BABY 


when its off somewhere. You know how that 
is. We’re not lucky enough to get seventy or 
e^hty weeks at a stretch. Then there is the 
contriving from day to day, and the saving 
that must be attended to regularly if I want 
to come out all right. I’m poor, Jopp, very 
poor, when it comes down to a show-out of 
actual cash. But, here’s where I intend to 
make a change: I want to go away and study,” 
she added, in a determined tone. "You know 
what I can put up. I intend to go to Europe.” 
She stood erect. "I’ll tell you, as my friend, 
what I intend to do: It’s an up hill road, all 
this contriving and planning and saving, and 
skimping one’s self when others about me 
are having such a good time of it, so I’ve 
made up my mind to sell my property. It’s 
splendidly located out there, and should bring 
me in quite a little sum just now when I wish 
to continue my studies abroad. So, here’s 
the question— are you attending ?” she asked. 

"I’m right on center. Little Chris,” I said. 

"Do you think my voice deserves the sacri- 
fice, Jopp ? Am I wrong— somewhere up 
here ?” tapping her head. 

I got up from my seat on the trunk and 
went to the door to listen. The orchestra was 
just commencing the overture to our new 
opera. I looked at my watch. I had five 
minutes before the rise of the curtain, but 


30 


A STAGE BABY 


already I must be at the switchboard. Some 
way or other I hated to give her that lecture ! 
So I tossed my head to her, as if to mutually 
indicate that I would have to see her later, 
and hurried across the stage. I had put up 
the setting before I went to see Little Chris, 
but there were several minor details to be 
attended to and I was busy for the remainder 
of the time. When I rang up the curtain it 
was upon a wood scene in Autumn, and a gay 
chorus enlivened the first ten minutes, after 
which came on the star of the piece. Sissy 
Burrows. Sissy was melodious and quaint, 
and not of the stereotyped pattern at all, but 
Little Chris was by far the most original in 
her work, and possessed a freshness that was 
charming. By the side of a great prop stump, 
at the rear of the setting, was the next 
opportunity I had of speaking to Little Chris. 
She was sitting on a huge boulder, her chin 
resting in her hands. She had just concluded 
a well deserved encore, and two comedians 
were getting the laughs from all comers of 
the house. I took occasion to whisper: 

"Fine, Chris; fine ! You certainly deserve to 
put all you’ve got into it; but” 1 hesitated. 

"Tell us about it, Jopp.” 

"I hate to say anything,” I faltered. 

"You must,” she insisted. 

"Very well. Frankly, then, I do not like the 


31 


A STAGE BABY 


plan you have in mind of selling out. There !” 

"Why ?” she asked. 

"I wouldn’t sell, under any circumstances,” 
I responded, with hearty emphasis. "The 
property will last when your voice is no more. 
Now, then, to answer your question: it is not 
worth the sacrifice you are going to make. 
You are poor; then let your ability take care 
of itself. You can do the work demanded of 
you, and you are a capable woman in parts; 
and you can certainly put it over when you 
like. My advice is, stay where you are and 
don’t fish for any of the dramatic stuff, because 
you’re not cut out for it; see ? Then again. 
Little Chris, you are hitting the booze! I know 
it. Don’t — don’t be a gin dope !” That was all 
I could get out of my famous lecture ! 

After that she was not in her happiest mood 
during the matinee. Singularly enough I 
found myself several times dwelling reflect- 
ively on my impromptu conversation with her 
as regarded her ability, and my advice; and, 
as if to enhance the significance of the suppo- 
sition that I might possibly be as much in her 
thoughts, at the same time, I caught her 
stealing glances at me at intervals when our 
respective parts permitted. 

"You’re a tyrant !” she said, when next I 
met her in the wings. "You do not believe in 
me at all. But— I’ll show you ! I’ll show you I” 


32 


A STAGE BABY 


While our piece was new I was in the habit 
of keeping the lines near me during the 
progress of the entire show, when not occu- 
pied with my dressing room changes; and, 
whether I stood on the stage, or in the wings, 
I was quite sure, that afteraoon, of perceiv- 
ing the half stolen glances of the girl every 
time I chanced to look up. She seemed to be 
really afraid of me; but I finally got a chance 
to whisper: "I did it all for the best. Little 
Chris. I just had to say it. Please don’t. 
Little Chris— please don’t— drink !” 

That Christmas matinee was a joyous and 
memorable occasion for all, and good cheer 
and optimism were elected supreme dieties. 
Nearly everybody had something from home 
during the day, and many were the little 
paper packages that found their way into the 
theatre with the arrival of every postman. I 
was not the possessor of many friends who 
might remember me thus; consequently I had 
to content myself with watching the extreme 
enthusiasm of others about me. I joyed with 
the rest because they were happy and worked 
with a snap that was delightful. However, I 
noticed, like myself Little Chris was not re- 
membered even once; thus I became aware of 
a certain mutual interest floating between us. 
And, let me add, there was: for, every effort 
of mine being concentrated upon the collect- 


33 


^ S T/1 GE BABY 


ive happiness of the others with the show, I 
chanced one moment to look toward Little 
Chris; our eyes met, and I felt sorry. 

Ah, that glance ! It was only for the space 
of one moment, mind you, but in that space 
of time the contour of a perfectly new exist- 
ence had formed itself. I am practical; quite 
so. I thought not so much of it at the time, 
for there were many important stage details 
to take up my mind; but there was one very 
peculiar circumstance which assured me over 
and over again that, look as I would, the 
scene was changing before me; the curtain 
was up on something entirely different from 
my ordering; for, in the midst of my work, 
whether on or off, I was continually haunted 
by the face of Little Chris. I thought this 
remarkably strange. And I got no rest, either. 

"After the show Fll go and explain myself 
more fully,” I thought. "She’s cross at me.” 

The very fact that she had, like myself 
received no demonstrations of Christmas 
rememberances, absolved itself into a sort of 
friendly sympathy for her. This, no doubt, 
was the cause of all my sudden and unexpected 
interest in her. 

I did not get an opportunity to see her again 
until the evening show commenced, for the 
reason that she arrived late, and I had a long 
sitting in the box office with Deedy. Thus, the 


34 


A STAGE BABY 


next I saw her was when we both went on. 

As I went out I took a survey of the house, 
to see what we had; audit was a superb sight. 
Deep rows of fluttering laces, and tones of 
shading in the delicate hues of the season; 
extremes of white and black apparent in set- 
tings of crimson and gold; a lavish display of 
draperies and plush, and a deep atmosphere 
of pleasurable expectancy resting overall. 
Beyond the glare of the lights it seemed like 
looking away out into another world: surely a 
world that had just come to laugh and to joy 
with us for a spell ! 

"You are working well, tonight, Little Chris. 
But, remember ! — ^just you leave it alone !” 

I said this to her as she turned for the fifth 
time in the wings in response to the enthusi- 
asm outside. The galleries always went wild 
over her; but this time the storm of applause 
from that particular and gratifying part of 
the house was tremendous. 

She laughed, in her charming way, and 
went on again. The stage was full of perform- 
ers watching her. She stamped her pretty 
foot at the audience, and scolded them in an 
unmerciful manner for daring to presume to 
call her back so many times ! But the more 
she scolded, the more delighted they were; 
and she simply stood there, merely moving 
her lips to the strains from the orchestra. 


35 


A STAGE BABY 


and then danced off again and hurried to her 
room for the next change, laughing all the 
way as the rippling of applause reached her 
ears, I never was so impressed or delighted 
with the acting of the girl as I was that 
night; I had never seen her so charming. Her 
bright eyes glowed with a soft and radiant 
light homogeneous with the coveted flush of 
health, and the peculiar spirit of Christmas. 

When I went out on the street again that 
night, the snow was still falling. The streets 
were slushy and somewhat slippery as a 
consequence of the many feet parading over 
the sidewalks. Many persons were carrying 
umbrellas. Not so with me. I was buttoned 
up to the chin in a great coat, and was re- 
joicing in the opportunity afforded to walk 
for some time before returning to the hotel; 
for, some way or another, I desired nothing 
better than to be alone tonight. I was very 
happy. Strangely so, let me add. To me there 
was a certain joy in seeing windows brilliantly 
lighted up here and there, (as contrasted with 
the usual holiday soberness, ) with the falling 
of the great flakes, and the merry laughter of 
th« hurrying throng beside me. Ah, me ! 
Here were the clocks striking the hour of 
midnight, and what, I wondered, was Little 
Chris doing at this moment ? This I thought; 
but, let me tell you a curious phase of this 


36 


A STAGE BABY 


strange night’s enjoyment. I was not exactly 
dreaming as I wandered about, but, bless you, 
here was the fact, try to shake it from me as 
I would: everything I looked at seemed to 
immediately, and in the most exactingly 
marvelous manner, associate itself with the 
fairy-like vision of Little Chris, just as I had 
seen her smiling and bowing before the foot- 
lights ! Did I contemplate for but a moment 
the display of wares in some jeweler’s window, 
for instance, there the face of that girl rose 
up before me as plainly as ever I saw it in 
reality; and floated about among solid silver 
decanters, among staid and steady going 
clocks that seemed to scorn the idea of losing 
a moment, and in the depth of numerous 
coruscating diamonds that fairly out dazzled 
the lights— there she was. Did I look out 
upon a passing cab as the patient horses 
plodded their tired way through the streets, 
the face of someone peering from the window 
would apparently bring to my fancy a face 
that I had last seen amid the dreamy depth 
of silken footlight radiance. It was wonder- 
ful, that vision of my mind ! Sometimes I 
stood irresolutely before some cozy eating 
house, with its tempting display of viands ; 
and, while making up my mind to enter, fear- 
ful of losing that vision which a boisterous 
crowd might drive from me, I would turn 


37 


^ STAGE BABY 


back and instantly get away into the depth 
of my inmost self again. And I liked it ! It 
was a novelty to me ! It was entrancing ! I 
had begun by endeavoring to correct her, 
and ended by falling in love. 

"If I wasn’t a fool— but, I am not a fool !” 
I muttered to myself. "Then, why all this ? 
Why should this girl’s face haunt me so ? I, 
who have never thought twice of any living 
woman?” In my thirty -fifth year of bachelor- 
hood I realized that I was now brought face 
to face with— could I name it ? Was it Love ? 

Or (letting myself down easy), was it just 
possible that Little Chris was merely thinking 
of me? It was not at all likely. I turned about 
and walked back over the same route as 
before, endeavoring to come in contact with 
my great mystery as I had seen it; and with 
every fresh obstacle that met my gaze— there 
was the same face, looking so wistful and 
dreamlike ! I endeavored to laugh it all down; 
but the face would come, so persistently, so 
real, and so much a part of my natural self, 
that I felt obliged to give myself over to the 
most enchanting moments that can come into 
a lonely man’s life. 

And so, a moment later I answered my own 
question, as I looked up to the dark and cheer- 
less sky from whence fell slowly the great, 
fleecy flakes of snow floating to the pavement. 


88 


A STAGE BABY 


"Jopp, be careful ! Your stage is all set for 
a love-scene, amid boulders and rocks. You 
will go on in the gloom; no lights, no music; 
and you will be playing to an empty house !” 


PART II 


STAGE BUSINESS 

However, I was not the kind of a person to 
fiddle along forever and say nothing. It was 
a strange thing that I, Joppman Burling, a 
happy-go-lucky bachelor at the age of thirty- 
five, should arrive at a conclusion like this ! 
And will you look at the mess that that re- 
nowned rascal, Cupid, had dealt out to me ! 
It was not enough that I should, perhaps, have 
blundered into someone of my own chosing, 
or taste, or whatever you call it; but to think 
that our old friend Dan had so unmercifully 
put it over me with a chic of a girl that saw 
nothing in the world but her own selfish self, 
and was, withal, rapidly booking by the old 
and unreliable Alcohol route— why, it was 
like trying to enjoy mustard on a stale Texas 
sandwich; and goodness knows I've had to 
take on many of such fiowering annuals. 

My! but you may believe that I spent a 
great part of that night wondering how under 
the sun I had ever dodged such an intricate 
set-piece all my life. Why, that little blind 
warrior must have been waiting especially 
for me, with a dozen or more sixteen inch 
field batteries, and had taken the opportunity 
to storm my helpless position with every kind 


40 


A S T A GE BABY 


of a shell imaginable, to have stormed my 
position with such astonishing results. Surely 
this was happiness, but happiness of a very 
peculiar kind, like sour cream to an excellent 
cup of Java. 

In the morning Cupid was still doing his 
best to keep up business ; nor had he slacked 
in his siege all night. I was a wreck. I was 
squarely up against the love proposition, and 
was obliged to acknowledge it. I was sure of 
it, but I firmly realized that it would never, 
never do. Not a bit of it. I could love her : 
nothing could prevent me from doing that; 
but my good sense told me that she was not 
for me. No ; Little Chris had higher and 
more significant ambitions. So I arrived at 
about something like the following conclusion: 

"Jopp, old boy, cut it short. Don’t make 
the mistake of going on when you’re not sure 
of half your lines. You could’nt make good 
in a love scene, and, besides, you’d queer the 
lead. You’d never make a hit, anyway !” 

So I resolved. In the meantime, I was at 
perfect liberty to hide all traces of emotion. 
It was not for me to come between this girl 
and her exalted aims, or bring her to an ab- 
rupt halt on her gilded course. That would 
only pave the way for the monster regret to 
get in his deadly work in after years. I had 
seen too much of that. 


41 


^ STAGE BABY 


I was a delinquent next morning at the 
breakfast table. I never contrived to be, but 
I was. As I advanced into the dining room 
four of our likewise belated leading spirits, 
who had assembled at a corner table by them- 
selves, struck up a vocal chord in C major, 
(which was our customary method of greeting 
belated comers to breakfast). I glanced about 
immediately and perceived Little Chris sitting 
at a table with Sis Burrows. She gave me a 
quick glance, and lowered her head abruptly. 
I felt almost ashamed of it all. I looked upon 
myself as the murderer of her life dreams. 
Here was another shell from the entrenchment 
of Dan Cupid. 

When I went to the theatre that morning I 
commenced my day's work with getting up 
some of the set-pieces for the evening per- 
formance. Deedy was there, overlooking a 
piece he did not approve of. Jake Forbes, 
the comedian, had very astutely admitted, 
(and wisely, too) that had we been doing a 
little less business, Deedy would not have 
been so decided in his opinions of a bit of 
curtain. Be that as it may, however, I had 
received instructions to the effect that the 
drop must go. Another had been substituted, 
and Deedy was on hand to see how it fitted. 
The manager was in quite a talkative mood 
that morning, and in the course of our general 


42 


A STAGE BABY 


remarks about the show, he said, slowly : 

"Twom was late last night; eh ?” 

"About a minute— getting on,” I assented. 
I never made a practice of informing on people. 

"One minute is as bad as an hour— with 
me,” said Deedy. "That makes the second 
time this season. What does he do ?” 

"I don’t know,” I admitted. "He’s been 
through here so much that he’s acquired a 
heap of friends, no doubt. Then it’s Christmas, 
you know, and he has lots of money.” 

"Money or no money, Jopp, no man or 
woman is going to cripple this show, no matter 
how good they are. Has anybody been fined 
this season yet ?” he asked, starting for the 
door. He looked back at me significantly. 

"No.” 

Deedy ruminated for a moment. "Tell you 
what, Jopp,” said he, walking back, "just you 
soak the first blamed person that comes into 
the door a minute late— no matter who it is. 
Don’t stand for any lingo, either. Just refer 
’em to me. Understand ?” 

I indicated that I did; and I saw nothing 
further of Deedy Clarkins till just before the 
rise of the curtain that night. He came be- 
hind and informed me that the advance man 
had wired him to the effect that he was 
wanted ahead, and that he might be away for 
a few days. I never liked to be left with the 


43 


A STAGE BABY 


show on my hands: something invariably 
happened to somebody; but I could say nothing. 

"I wouldn’t go,” he added, placidly, "except 
for the fact that I think there are one or two 
changes in the route. One house has been 
condemned by the authorities, and in another 
town there is small-pox. We were to take in 
both places, but we’ll have to switch now.” 

Deedy left. I went and posted the call and 
announced the overture by yelling it down 
the stairs at the Professor who was tuning 
up; then I went to my room to make changes 
for my part in the first act. I felt rather blue 
that Deedy should have left the show in my 
care. This meant additional details to attend 
to, and things are never as liable to get along 
so smoothly as when the head is present. 
Though, I may say with considerable pride, 
we possessed the finest troup of performers 
in the world, and everything had gone along 
like a clock; yet there was always a plausible 
excuse for conscientious worry on my part; 
and it came that night. 

When I came back upon the stage I found 
that the inevitable had happened— the incor- 
rigible Twom had failed in his appearance 
for his part in the first act. Wasn't that just 
like luck ? I did not allow myself to get 
worked up over this a little bit. Not much. I 
was master of the situation now. I was not 


44 


A S TAGE BABY 


provided with his understudy, but I knew 
where I could place my hand upon a man who 
could say offhand every word of Twom’s 
lines. Indeed, I had often heard him amuse 
himself while in his dressing room, by 
burlesquing him. Dicky Bartons was the man 
of the hour, by all means. 

"Begin with trouble, and end with trouble,” 
I soliloquized, making my way to Barton’s 
room. "Hello, there, you Dicky Bartons !” I 
called out, (I rapped on his door, because 
Bartons dressed with his wife.) "Hello, Dickey! 
Ho, there I Twom is out ! Hurry and get 
ready for the part: you’ve got just six 
minutes !” 

"Who— me?” drawled Bartons, coming to the 
door immediately, and sticking his head out. 

"Yes— you ! Hurry I I want you to go on 
for Twom,” I said, watch in hand. 

"But ” 

"That’ll do ! You know the music, and I’ll 
risk the lines. You’ll get along someway.” 

I turned about, leaving him standing in the 
dressing room door. But, such was the confi- 
dence I had in Bartons. I knew it would be 
all right. He would do the part, in addition 
to his own. 

And, sure enough ! There he was, one 
minute ahead of time, in his best make-up, 
waiting for his cue-word in the wings. 


45 


^ STAGE BABY 


"Now then, Dickey,” said I, "here you are ! 
Watch yourself! Only a few* more words. 
Shoot— for all there’s in it !” 

In a few seconds Bartons was on, and going 
through the lines, with a grin on his face that 
suggested the utmost confidence. But hardly 
had he reached the center of the stage when 
the door opened and in rushed the delinquent 
Twom. When he caught sight of Bartons 
going through his lines he staggered back 
against the wall, glaring about him angerly. 
Of course he selected me for any little 
pleasantry he had in mind. 

"You’d do anything to make it uncomfort- 
able for a fellow !” he said. "A man’s watch 
can’t be a trifle slow but you must hurry up 
the show just to make it hot for me ! Bah — 
for you !” 

"We’ll make it five dollars for 2 /om,” I re- 
torted quickly. "Stand aside ! You’re too late 
to go on. The ghost will fix it up for you next 
Thursday, Twom ! He’ll visit you in the 
envelope, good and proper ; don’t worry 1” 

He swore that the accident was unavoidable; 
and as for me, (snapping his fingers in my 
face) he would see Deedy about it, and then 
where would my five dollar fine be? He’d 
show me my place with the trick, he would ! 
Five dollars, indeed ! Just wait till he got 
Deedy’s ear ! 


46 


STAGE BA BY 


’'Never mind, Twom,” I retorted. "Take it 
from me that you don’t go on this evening. 
That settles it; see ? You don’t go on !” 

"Oh, I don’t; eh ?” 

He went out of the theatre, vowing a 
dire vengeance. I did not see him again until 
the next day when we were getting off the 
train; and then he stood over by the trunks, 
viewing me with anything but favor. But I 
was not in the least discomfited about it; I had 
simply done my duty as per instructions. So, 
you see how poor stage managers do get it ! 

Twom was a rich young man, following the 
stage as a sort of hobby. He was a good 
performer, with an excellent stage appear- 
ance. He came from a high and very 
aristocratic family and he was perfectly 
aware of the significance of it all. If those 
he worked with did not utter their lines in 
the same stereotyped manner night after 
night, he heaped upon them the blame for 
trying to "queer” his own work: Conse- 
quently, it was hard for anyone to get along 
with him in anything like a comfortable 
manner; and there could have been discord 
and contention daily if the others had not 
freely understood him. When the five 
dollar fine was subtracted from his salary 
the following Thursday he made the hub-bub 
about it that I expected; but I realized that 


47 


^ STAGE BABY 

it was not at all incompatible with my duty, 
and so overlooked his talk. 

Little Chris did not mention her property 
tome again; and I concluded that she was 
going to act in the matter as she saw fit. 
Her lofty ambitions appeared to grow daily, 
too; and my one fear was that she should 
forget herself and her present duty entirely, 
so completely carried away was she with 
visions of newer fields. In my eyes she 
seemed to grow more graceful every day, 
and to sing with more beauty and spirit; and 
I wondered why I had not noted those things 
before. I never lost sight of her for a 
moment; but, while she was always before 
my eyes, I felt it my duty to keep out of her 
way as much as possible, because I did not 
now experience the perfect freedom with her 
that I formerly did. Whether she suspected 
the real nature of affairs I never knew ; but 
I possessed a grim realization— or suspicion— 
that she desired to avoid me as much as I 
desired to keep out of her way, the difference 
being that while I loved her almost to ador- 
ation, she, on the other hand regarded me 
as but an unwelcomed and insignificant 
addition to her many admirers. Possibly I 
might have been mistaken as regards this. 
A bachelor of my age who has never had a 
previous experience upon this much trod 


48 


^ STAGE BAB Y 


though treacherous road, has few genuine 
insights into the game of love. 

Now, mark you: I kept up my secret 
admiration for some time; then, without a 
moments warning I felt myself the victim of 
a radical collapse. My house of love had been 
besieged by that old arch enemy of peace— 
the green-eyed dragon of Jealousy! That 
was just another shell from the enemy’s 
headquarters; and it did considerable damage: 
because I was hacked right and left. Of all 
the afflictions I ever underwent — being 
withal, a good-natured, healthy individual — 
I say, of all the afflictions, this was by far 
the worst. The little winged rascal did 
certainly put some gigantic stuff over that 
did not make a hit with me a little bit. Well, 
I want to take the liberty here and now to 
compare the Dragon to a leach; because, 
where there is no Love there can be no 
Dragon, and where there is no Dragon, there 
can be, of course, no Love. You see they 
both stick to each other pretty well. 

Buckling down to work one fine morning 
in pawing over my massive collection of 
baggage at the depot, I was considerably 
surprised to perceive Twom paying marked 
attentions to Little Chris on their way up the 
street to the theatre. How long this had 
been in progress I never realized before this 


49 


^ STAGE BABY 


minute. The next morning he put himself 
out of the way considerably more, I took the 
liberty of observing, just to have the pleasure 
of carrying her suit case (in conjunction 
with his own) ; and together they went up 
the street, the male escort looking decidedly 
like an elephant doctor. I saw fit to become 
quite effected about this. 

The next morning found them together 
again; after which it became a regular occur- 
rence: no one could occupy the post of honor 
beside her but Twom (or, so it appeared) . 
There was a great deal to do these days; for, 
what with one cause or other connected with 
the house we played, I managed to keep busy 
all day through, since we had a long run of 
one night stands, and Deedy still ahead of us. 
One afternoon I was cleaning my old corduroy 
suit which was part of my stage wardrobe. 
Before I could realize it, in pops Little Chris, 
and, with the sweetest of graces, wanted me 
to fix the handle of her stage riding whip. 
Though still on the best of terms with her, 
she very rarely visited me now. When I had 
repaired the handle she went out; and 
presently I heard the voice of Twom babbling 
away in her dressing room, which was two 
doors from my own. I felt a trifle hurt at 
this, (for all it was none of my concern) 
because I knew his presence there was not at 


50 


^ STAGE B A BY 


all called for. But, the girl seemed to enjoy it. 

The day was a dreary one outside. It rained 
steadily, and the walking was disagreeable, 
the slush abounding everywhere. I was glad 
of the opportunity to remain indoors all I 
could. Thus, I could not help hearing Twom. 
When he at length went away, I took the 
liberty of calling Little Chris to my room. 

"Sit down, Little Chris,” said I, putting a 
chair forward with my foot. She obeyed. 

"What is it— my make-up, Jopp ?” she 
asked. "I know it has not been of the best 
lately. I’ve sent to New York for some.” 

"Bless you, it isn’t your make-up. Little 
Chris,” I returned. I attempted to smile. "I 
am not going to speak of that at all. You’re 
doing yourself justice in that respect. I 
desire to help you out of a little difficulty that 
may come later. I want to tell you right here 
and now. Little Chris, that I don’t like the 
way you’re going it! That’s just it. I don’t 
approve of WHAT you are doing; see ? You 
know what I mean. You are drinking, and 
having too much to do with that fellow, 
Twom ! He is not good enough for you.” 

She looked surprised for a moment, and 
then stared, rocking herself back and forth 
slowly in the chair. 

"Nonsense, Jopp!” Then after a pause: 
"I suppose you will infer that I'm in love with 


51 


^ STAGE BABY 


that fellow ?” she asked, with a faint laugh. 

"Well, how else can I put it ?” 

"Goodness knows, I don’t quite understand 
you. As for drinking, that is my own 
business; as for Twom, he is a gentleman of 
family. He is all right. He is interested in 
my voice, which makes it all the more agree- 
able to me.” 

"Your voice, eh ?” I repeated, savagely. 

"That’s just it: my voice. He has rare 
ambitions, besides,— like myself.” 

My blood was up, and my face was flushed. 
Interested in her voice, indeed! Interested 
in carrying on a mere flirtation with her for a 
moment ! that was all. 

"You are sure— you care nothing for him. 
Little Chris ? Are you sure that he is worthy 
of your love and esteem ? I am aware that 
there is something up. You cannot fool me. 
But, be very careful. These young fellows 
with plenty of money ” 

I did not flnish. She turned about to me 
with a cold smile. "Don’t let it trouble you, 
my friend,” she said. "I am able to take care 
of myself. I care nothing for Mr. Twom — 
nothing at all. As for my drinking I am quite 
sure I do not hurt myself. Will that do ?” 

"You are sure of it. Little Chris ?” 

"I know it, ” she returned, with positive- 
ness. And went out abruptly. 


52 


^ STAGE BABY 


I believed her; and now I felt easier that I 
had spoken to her. But, I wished, however, 
that she would have nothing more to do with 
the fellow while the show was out. And I 
noted, let me tell you, with a pain at my 
heart— a foolish pain, no doubt— that she did 
not change her attitude toward Twom. 

Pretty soon another huge shell from the 
entrenchment of the enemy came rocketing 
over my unlucky head, and exploded in the 
pocket of my confidence in the girl. It was a 
new turn in affairs for the amusement of 
Little Chris. Here it is: I noted, as the days 
went by, that she and Sis Burrows became 
strongly attached to each other; and what 
should come of this otherwise than I had 
suspected— that Little Chris was coming 
under the influence of the leading woman, 
and was meeting young fellows at the stage 
door after the show ! Sissy was as gay as 
you might expect to find one of her class, and 
I half surmised that it was due to her clever 
personality, for Little Chris had always been 
immune from the seductions of stage-door 
parasites. Why, bless you, from then on, the 
Jacks would swoop down upon them in all 
sorts of styles, in touring cars and carriages, 
and, before I could think twice, off would go 
the two women toward the high life with a 
scion of some wealthy family who had been 


53 


cW STAGE BABY 


following the show for a week or two. And 
I was more than hurt at this newer discovery. 
All my theatrical life I had seen this sort of 
thing happen night by night, and I had never 
thought of it twice. Now, however, it was 
entirely different. Something about it appeal- 
ed to me exceedingly. I knew pretty nearly 
what it was. And a miserable, hang-dog 
sort of life I would lead when the curtain 
dropped and I perceived Little Chris merrily 
tripping from the stage to her dressing-room. 
Sometimes I would solace myself with the 
reflection that this or that particular night 
would be her last with the gay birds who 
sent her up flowers, or love notes which she 
would carelessly leave lying on the dressing- 
room floor. Every night I would look over 
the bright footlights to the boxes, and just 
as sure as I saw a spick and span looking 
shirt front, surmounted by a boyish face and 
a display of diamonds, just as sure was I of 
the fact that here was another swell supper- 
ing-out party. And I was always right in 
my calculations. 

I never spoke a word of this to her. But, 
bless my soul ! do you think I could go to bed 
and sleep securely while she was out ? 
Wretched it made me, I must acknowledge, 
and on more occasions than one I managed to 
follow them to the very place before which 


54 


^ STAGE BABY 


the coach stopped, sometimes in the nick of 
time to see the fair occupants alight in their 
furs and be escorted trium.phantly to some 
swell cafe. And here I would wait, on the 
bleak outside, of course, and pace up and 
down, up and down, for an hour or more at a 
stretch, and then be finally rewarded for my 
patience by getting a furtive glimpse of them 
as they all came out, laughing and chatting, 
and go whirling toward the hotel. Often I 
realized that Little Chris was quite under the 
influence of wine ; but to me there was a 
weird and half tragic fascination in being 
there ; my object was to feel that the girl 
was safe, and that I was close at hand. 

I would manage, with extreme indifference 
to it all, of course, to get little insights as to 
what occurred at many of these suppers by 
getting on the right side of Sissy Burrows : 
so I learned that Little Chris was a lover of 
champagne, and that in response to toasts she 
always drank quite heavily. This was sad 
intelligence to me, for I felt that the girl was 
irrevocably hitting the down grade. 

And I finally made up my mind that I 
would try and worry no further about her. 


55 


PART III 


LOVE SCENES 

One night, after the performance, we were 
tendered a sort of banquet on the stage by 
the house manager, who was an old friend of 
Deedy’s. He was a big, generous man, to 
whom we brought five days of the largest 
business in the history of the house. This 
banquet was the response to a challenge set 
in motion several years ago, to the effect that 
we could not raise the receipts to a whittled 
notch cut in the box-office at that period. I 
think it was a burlesque that raised the alti- 
tude of the notch in those days ; but the old 
challenge was eventually taken up; and the 
manager was as good as his word. 

We were delightfully persuaded to the fact 
that all this was of an extremely agreeable 
nature. Outside it rained in torrents, but 
the supper, with all fixings, was brought in 
to us by two fat porters. It was a novel 
experience and the company danced and 
cavorted about while we waited for the 
tables— very improvised ones— to be spread 
with the good things steaming from bright 
colored baskets and boxes. Nothing cheap 
about that supper, I assure you. It was in 
the contract to that effect. But it was to 


56 


^ STAGE BABY 


be held on the stage, by popular request. 

Only one thing was wanting for the com- 
pletion of my own personal happiness that 
evening: that Little Chris, with her love for 
the gay lights, had never entered my life in 
the manner she did. But, I could not help 
but resent, mentally, the manner in which 
Twom forced his unlimited attentions upon 
the girl directly in front of me. Of course, 
here was where the little god was getting in 
his most effective work from behind his 
unresisting entrenchment. And the way I 
was battered at that night was something to 
be remembered for a long while ! That he 
did it to particularly aggravate me was quite 
certain; but Little Chris was restless, and not 
at all herself. When she had finished her 
supper, I saw her go alone to the head of the 
iron stairs that led to the next flight dressing 
rooms, and there stand, leaning upon the 
rail, looking upon the gay assembly below. 
She seemed in a meditative mood, I thought, 
and once or twice I perceived that she was 
looking directly at me. Deedy, I am glad to 
say, was with us, and was enjoying his stogie 
as usual, and swapped reminiscences with 
the house manager. When I saw Little Chris 
steal away to her dressing room, I silently 
went up after her, and made out to accidently 
stumble upon her as she stood by a window 


57 


^ STAGE BABY 


watching the rain coming down, and the wet 
and deserted street just beyond fitfully 
illuminated by the flaring lights. 

She became aware of my presence, and 
turned about to me. "Jopp,” she said, "I 
have sold my property.” 

I looked about the room for something I 
was quite sure I would not find, and didn't 
want to, either. There was nothing that I 
could possibly need, except to be with her. 

"Indeed ?” I returned. 

"Yes, it’s practically settled. My agent 
has found a buyer. I can go to Europe, now.” 

"You will use the money, then— for that ?” 

"Indeed I will ! You know I ought to be 
earning a much larger salary than ever I 
could in comic opera, even now.” 

I went over to her and placed my hand on 
her shoulder. "Well, dear Little Chris, I am 
very glad for your sake. I would be pleased 
to see you one of the big ones. I know you 
richly deserve it; and you will forgive me for 
not seeing the bright future as you see it. 
All I am fitted to see, Chris, is the setting 
that is illuminated by the footlights. But I 
fancy I can discern your rosy future now. 
You’ll forgive me; will you not ?” 

For an answer she dropped into a chair, 
and let her head fall into her hands upon the 
window. In a moment I perceived that she 


58 


^ STAGE BABY 


was sobbing. My breath came quickly as I 
bent over her rich mass of hair, and my heart 
beat so rapidly that for a moment I was 
speechless, as though from stage fright. 

"Dear Little Chris,” said I, tenderly, "I am 
not much of an actor myself: I only fit in 
where I am needed, and I know no more about 
singing (as YOU know it) than a bear knows 
about a grand piano. Twenty years on the 
stage has done nothing more for me than you 
see at the present moment; but. I’ll just put 
this up to you. Little Chris, and you can con- 
sider me as much of a bear as you please: I 
love you. Yes, it’s right; I love you more 
than you would believe if I were to tell you 
all. When I scolded you it was for your own 
good. Now, see here, girl, I wouldn’t do 
anything, or say anything that would give 
you a moments uneasiness for the world, and 
I am no good anywhere in a love scene except 
to boss somebody else around; but just set 
that down as coming from Jopp Burling, and 
believe— just believe in me.” 

I don’t know what strange impulse made 
me deliver myself of this much, and could 
hardly believe my ears when I found myself 
saying it. In all my life I had never been 
guilty of saying the like before; but, there 
must be a first time sometime, and right here 
I had confessed my secret before I realized it! 


59 


^ STAGE BABY 


It seemed like an appalling disaster; but, 
(would you believe it ?) the first thing I knew 
she was looking up into my flushed face, her 
eyes shining out like great diamonds in the 
midst of her tears and their dark penciled 
shading. She eagerly seized my hand in her 
grasp. I was enraptured. 

"Jopp, please don’t !” she implored. 

"Little Chris, I have pained you !” 

"Jopp, I am just as much at fault as you. 
I love you, Jopp. God knows I do. You say 
you’re not much in a scene, Jopp, but you had 
the power to bring me down on Christmas 
Day in your own good and manly way. But, 
oh, Jopp — oh, Jopp !” she cried, with a sob: 
"there’s just another little side to the story. 
You know it— I don’t have to say it. I love 
you— yes, I love you, dear friend, but— oh, 
Jopp ! — You know I’m not worth it all !” 

And then I just did the next best thing: I 
seized her hands and drew her to my heart. 
It was not by any means like rehearsing a 
part. I will flatly contradict this. Here was 
my own play, my own setting, my — well, my 
own characters. I asked her again and again 
if I had heard all right. Was it possible that 
it was all true ? "Little Chris,” I cried, "what 
is this you have told me ? Say it again !” 

"It is true,” she replied, sobbing. "I love 
you, Jopp. I cannot help it; if I could I 


60 


^ STAGE BABY 


would. I have fought it hard,— and failed.” 

"These are my own intuitions,” I returned. 
"I shall always trust them. Oh, dear Little 
Chris, I half suspected it, but, you know, I 
couldn't bring myself to the point of thinking 
so because I knew your ambitions were far 
above mine. Little Chris. I can never get 
out of the old place by the wings, dear girl, 
while you continue to aspire to Grand, and 
all that. But, my curtain’s up on an entirely 
new setting. Little Chris, and I’m on a brand 
new circuit from to-day, because I know that 
you love me, in spite of my scoldings !” 

She commenced to wring her hands, and to 
cry out, "Oh, what have I done !” 

"It’s all right. Little Chris. The show will 
go on just the same as it always has, and you 
need never fear me— not me. Little Chris. I 
respect your ambitions too much to try and 
drag you away from your ideals; the Lord 
knows that. I want you to go on just as you 
have been — only do try and keep away from 
the old Boss who’s brought many of the good 
ones to the ground. I will keep right along, 
even if the footlights do get a little dim once 
in a while and, perhaps, go out altogether; 
but. I’ll get along — somehow. I want to see 
you the great performer you desire to be. 
The only thing I have to regret is the fact 
that I am not as well up in the art as you 


61 


^ STAGE BABY 


are. That is what I regret, Little Chris.” 

"Yes, yes, that is the trouble, Jopp,” she 
returned. She dried her eyes in a manner 
that suggested determination. "I fully realize 
it. I know that we might never be happy 
together. My life is warped and twisted. 
You know how it is, Jopp. You have just 
intimated as much to me. I know that in a 
short time we will— ah— we will 

"Yes, Little Chris.” I saw she was agitated. 

"We will forget all about it— and it will — 
be much better for us both.” She was sob- 
bing again. "You never could be happy with 
such a woman; you know that, Jopp; never.” 

"Very well. Little Chris. It is your’s to say 
what you will do. Just don’t mind me, at all, 
because, as I said before. I’ll get along, with 
just an occasional thought of you. I am only 
a man; nothing more, with just a man’s feel- 
ings. I am not supposed to know what it is 
possess a heart ache. I just want you to do 
right and forge ahead. Little Chris, as though 
I wasn’t about, and some day you may become 
one of the big ones, and dictate your own 
salary. But, as to my ever forgetting you, 
do you think God, who made all things 
perfect, created a man’s love to be thrown 
down and taken up again at will, like an 
old wood drop ? My love has come to stay 
out my little season, and I know how to make 


62 


^ STAGE BABY 


the one great sacrifice that is demanded of 
me at this particular time. But I will always 
treasure up in my heart the fact that you 
loved me— once. But there,” I added, abrupt- 
ly, "I am tiring you. They are already 
getting started for a good time down stairs, 
and someone is playing the fiddle in good old 
country style. Let’s go. Come !” 

"But, Jopp ” 

"Come, let’s get in the dance ! There’s a 
good old-fashioned money musk. I haven’t 
been in one for years.” 

I caught her by the arm and lifted her 
from the seat, afraid to trust myself there 
any longer. I half carried her down the iron 
stairs. The tables had already been cleared 
away, and an old-fashioned country dance 
was in progress. Perched on the top of a 
huge tree stump, of the stage variety, as if to 
make the thing more realistic, sat one of our 
boys, scraping out a rousing money musk on 
a fiddle which he kept incessantly tuning. 
Everybody was happy, and the fun was of 
the uproarious nature. The stage was cleared, 
and when Chris and I arrived, the dance 
commenced in good earnest— everything of 
the old pattern dances, and no end of fun 
interspersed through them all. There was 
about forty of us present, all doing our best 
to make the affair one to be remembered. 


63 


^ STAGE BABY 

Even Deedy Clarkins threw aside his stogie 
and fell in with the "eight hands ’round”, 
and "first couple swings” as lively as the rest 
of them. For that evening, anyway. Little 
Chris and I were partners very often, and in 
one set she whispered in my ear, "Jopp, you 
are certainly a dear fellow, and— and I wish— 
I wish things were not as they are.” 

But, never mind: I was happy because 
things were as they were with me. Though 
she laughed and talked sprightly enough with 
Twom, yet I knew it was merely a hollow 
showing, and that he little realized the scene 
that had been enacted a moment ago in the 
dressing-room. He never would know. 

I did not intrude myself upon her for the 
space of three days after that night ; but I 
was busy all this time with my own thoughts 
just the same. Still, I had made up my mind 
that I would no longer be jealous ; but my 
good intentions were not to last many days ; 
for, every time I received a more ferocious 
assault than usual from the enemy’s ranks, 
Twom was always there behind the gun. I 
was of the impression that happiness was to 
be mine forever after that confession from 
the lips of Little Chris ; but, bless your heart, 
I just grew more miserable every day, until I 
commenced to wonder how long it was going 
to last. On the part of Little Chris it was a 


64 


^ STAGE BABY 


toss-up betwixt love and temptation, with 
temptation making a fair showing in the 
winning part of it. With me it was a con- 
tinual sacrifice from morning till night. Day 
by day I kept out of her path, knowing that 
this was the only way open to me to keep my 
mind at rest. I was thoroughly unhappy. 

And the suppering-out habit came again 
with renewed vigor, in those wretched days ! 
But, whether fate was unkind to me, or it 
was due my unusual sensitiveness in the 
matter, the days went by, with me dragging 
after them, a truly forlorn creature in the 
midst of light and mirth and music. I wanted 
to be with Little Chris, and yet I knew that 
it was not to be. And for the first time in 
my life, I discovered myself, one day while 
posting the call, wishing for the close of the 
season, as I never had wished before. That 
settled it. I knew that I was having too 
miserable a time of it to last very long, and 
that something was bound to shape itself 
before many days. And it did. That after- 
noon Twom was late for the matinee, and I 
sent him to the front of the house. It was 
the envelope for him, as I expected; and 
Twom was with us no more: 

I didn’t feel elated over this sudden up- 
heaval of our theatrical bliss. It was the first 
unpleasant situation of the season. And, to 


65 


^ STAGE BABY 

make matters worse, Little Chris appeared to 
avoid me now more than ever. I saw that 
she felt it keenly. 

After the matinee I went in to have a talk 
with Sissy Burrows about some change Deedy 
wished to have made. In the vernacular of 
the stage Sissy was "some girl,” when it came 
to heavy work, and she could always be 
depended upon for a mine of recollections of 
her earlier days before the footlights. When 
I entered she was sewing on a stage skirt. 
She had just telephoned for her supper to be 
sent up to her, and was in a gay mood, and 
greeted me with the assurance that I did 
right as regards Twom. I thanked her. 

"And what do you think the boob did ?” she 
asked. "See that skirt— that rip ? That’s 
Twom for you ! Didn’t he step on it last 
night while I was sitting on the stage beside 
him ! That fellow’s the worst thick-head ! 
Oh, such a dummy ! I’m glad he’s gone !” 

I asked, incidently, of course, if they all 
had supper out last night. 

"Of course ! Why he is spending no end of 
money on Little Chris; he’s got to, to keep 
ahead of the Johnny procession.” 

"It’s awfully thoughtful of him,” I said. 

"Well, yes — that is, if you think so,” she 
replied. "When I go out after Number Two, 
Jopp, take it from me, he’ll have to be a 


66 


^ STAGE BABY 


different idea than what’s wrapped up in the 
personality of that man, I can assure you.” 

Ah, she didn’t know then ! I hoped she 
never would. It was best she should not. 

"She doesn’t like him,” I said, impatiently. 

I spoke rather impulsively. 

"Of course not !” returned Sissy. "It is not 
to be expected that she should. He stands in 
with her because he’s forever treating, and 
ranting about her voice. And, you know. 
Little Chris is vain on that one score. That’s 
her failing; we’ve all got one or two. Mine, 
for instance,” said this delightful woman, 
pursing up her mouth, "lies in the fact that I 
expect to get a model husband. Yes a number 
TWO, if you please. Don’t you think that’s 
a failing worth recording ? I know I shall 
never succeed, but we must all have a hobby. 
There are no desirable ones, Jopp: they are 
all very much undesirable ; especially actors.” 

I looked at her as she sat there smiling. 
Sissy was as good a woman as ever smiled 
before the lights. I was well aware of that 
for years. She had no use for booze, either. 

"Regarding Number One, Jopp,” she con- 
tinued, "why, bless my heart, there was no 
such a thing as 'suppering-out’ when he was 
in question. Not a bit of it. What’s the use 
of the life if you’r not true to it; eh ? That’s 
it. You ought to see me turn down the 


67 


^ STAGE BABY 


mashers in those days ! No use for them at 
all, Jopp. I used to think of the little pink 
light sitting on the parlor table at home, and, 
frequently, mother stirring up a nice custard, 
or getting together the fire in the grate, 
would come up in my mind. Then there were 
the friends we used to have call in to see us 
of an evening when the road season was 
ended; then there were the pictures, and the 
dog, and the cat— I mustn’t forget them— 
and everything going along superbly, until 
Number One hit the gilded trail and away he 
went to the slums all at once. Why, say, 
Jopp, before that happened we had the nicest 
picture of home life— my, my ! And we didn’t 
loaf more than four weeks in the year— 
always busy. I never knew what happiness 
was before that period and now it’s all ended. 
Old King Booze got him!" 

As though mere words were insufficiently 
adequate to express her disappointment. 
Sissy Burrows here ended her remarks with 
a sigh, and bent her pretty head down over 
her work. So, I thought, of a necessity, 
there must be a tragedy in all lives, and mine 
was not a wit exempt from trouble any more 
than the rest of them. I was not satisfied 
with the way things had gone. With Twom 
out of my life I could not see my way any 
clearer as regards the affair with Little Chris. 


68 


^ STAGE BABY 

Twom’s going was only a flame to the Are. 
Twenty years of life on the stage had given 
me this insight into human anomalies. I had 
many experiences with performers in love 
before. I felt just now as if I, too, desired 
nothing better than to quit the show in two 
weeks time. Life with her would be quite 
unbearable ; she would drink the harder. 

I left Sissy’s dressing-room, and went 
below to the stage to see about settings. As 
I worked, the more I thought about closing 
with the show the better I liked it. It was 
getting to a point where I could exist in the 
atmosphere no longer. To love a woman who 
is taking every means in her power to thwart 
that love in the most reckless manner was by 
no means a fascinating forbearance. 

I was early at the hotel for supper. Neither 
Sissy nor Little Chris had corneas yet and- 
very few of the performers were at the table. 
They would all come later, I thought, on my 
way back to the theatre. As I walked along 
I noticed that the night was one of these 
cold, cheerless, penetrating nights peculiar 
to late winter. A moaning wind was sighing 
over the city; it seemed to sob out some long 
pent up grief beneath the roof and in every 
crevice of the house as I entered the stage 
door. Everything was dark and quiet, save 
for a feeble, half dimmed bulb that glimmered 


69 


•Jl STAGE BABY 


over the switchboard. The curtain was up, 
and a chilly draught was making its way 
from the orchestra pit over the dark foot- 
lights that caused the flimsy wood-drops 
above to wave back and forth in a ghostly 
manner. No wonder that, as I crossed and 
recrossed the stage a number of times, my 
always solicitous mind should revert to Little 
Chris. I wondered where she was at this 
particular moment while everything was so 
quiet and not an echo stole to me from any- 
where. I went to the depth of a private box, 
where the darkness was the most intense, 
and, seating myself there, gave myself up to 
bitter reflections. I was all alone in the 
building. It seemed for the moment as 
though life were extinct; and I must have 
dozed for the space of a half hour. 

When I next looked about the lights were 
on. There were the sound of hurrying feet 
everywhere. Music was being wafted to me 
with the echoes of the great play house, and 
the gloom of the previous hour was dispelled. 
The performers were already dressing for 
their parts in their respective dressing-rooms; 
there was the hum of instruments tuning, 
and just behind the curtain came the sound 
of suppressed voices and hurried steps. 

"Strange that I should feel this was my 
last night with the show !” I murmered. 


70 


^ STAGE BAB Y 


getting up from the seat. '1 have dozed ! 
I wonder how near the curtaia it is ? Yes, 
I think ril give my notice to-n^ght !” 

I glanced at my watch, and found that it 
lacked but four minutes of the overture to 
"The Pirates of Penzance.”' Not so bad, I 
thought, but still, pretty close. I never was 
actually late with the curlain in my life, 
though one time I was only within two 
minutes of it, and had to dress for a part, too. 

Mechanically I walked to my dressing-room 
after giving a few inst^tictions to the house 
men. As my way led by ^ the room of Little 
Chris I happened to glance 4n. She was never 
a tardy dresser, and Ilwould have thought 
nothing further had hoi?I noticed her costume 
for the evening hanging on the wall opposite. 
There was no getting over a strange fact: 
Little Chris was not there to dress for her 
part, and it only wanted ten minutes of the 
curtain ! What had happened ? 

I stood with my hand to my brow for a few 
minutes, as though it might be altogether 
likely she had decided to dress in with Sissy. 
There was a possibility about that. I rushed 
to her room, but the star was already dressed, 
and out on the stage, waltzing about to the 
music of the overture. 

"Little Chris not on hand ?” she echoed. "I 
am astonished at that ! She’s never late !” 


71 


^ ST A Gil BABY 


”Have you seen her lately ?” I asked Sissy. 

"Seen her ?” she repeated ; "why, dear me! 
when did I see the child?” 

"At supper?” 

"No, she was not at supper.” Then she 
added: "Jopp, I haven't seen her since the 
show, when she hurried out. But I know one 
thing : the girl has been drinking all day.” 

"I know it Sissy ; I know it !” 

I was turning about, mystified beyond my 
ability to solve the thing out, when a new 
light suddenly dawned before me. 

I rushed to her dressing-room. Her trunks 
were still there, and pinned to the top of one 
of them was this note : 

"Dear Jopp: — Forgive me; Twom and I are 
going to team it together in vaudeville, and 
intend to be married today. Chris.” 


72 


PART IV 


THE PART OF A VILLAIN 

There was a great noise over such an 
unlooked for development ! Of course it 
delayed the show some; what accident of 
this nature does not ? But for the next few 
minutes I had my hands full in fitting up the 
understudies of both parts and drilling them 
properly to their cues. 

Just now, however, my mind was so com- 
pletely absorbed in the way things were to go 
on the stage that evening, I had little time 
for reflection; but this was to come later. 
After the first act Deedy came behind and 
was wild at the sudden change. From the 
beginning of the act he simply stared; he 
seemed fascinated by the upheaval, not 
knowing what to make of it. But, after the 
drop of the curtain, and I had been hunted 
up, he calmed down somewhat, (by the time 
he had got a stogie going) and listened in de- 
tail to my account of the whole affair. 

"Well, they’ve got married before this,” 
said he, rubbing his chin. "He’s made her 
think, I suppose, that he could not live with- 
out her. Anyway, she hasn’t squared up yet. ” 

Of course the show went on. My experience 
of twenty years has demonstrated to me that 


73 


^ ST A GB BABY 


there never was a show yet that couldn’t get 
along, no matter how badly crippled it has 
become. It can make out someway, even 
though the stage manager has to double up in 
five or six different parts, or some of the 
actors have to do several turns not listed. 

But, they had gone, and that settled it. 
There was a great flurry of talk for the even- 
ing, and by the time everybody had left the 
dressing-rooms for the night, the matter had 
already grown quite stale. But, with me, 
not so. I knew there would be no sleep for 
Jopp Burling that night. The unexpected 
had happened; yes, the entirely unexpected. 
When I left the already darkened theatre I 
went for a turn about the streets, and dropped 
into a coffee house for a steaming cup of 
coffee; and just as I had seen the face of 
Little Chris before me on Christmas night, 
just so I saw it before me now— always the 
same, look where I would. 

However, my greatest surprise was still in 
store for me. For, when I returned to the 
hotel that night Deedy handed me a telegram. 

"What is it ?” I asked. I took the yellow 
slip nervously. 

"Read it,” said Deedy, calmly. 

Mechanically I held it over to the light for 
inspection. It was addressed to Deedy from a 
town not far away. 


74 


^ STAGE BABY 


Brief, and peculiarly to the point, it read: 

"Stranded. Wire fare at once. 

Little Chris.” 

"Stranded !” I repeated. I read it over 
again, slowly. "Stranded ! Is it possible ?” 

"It is possible,” returned Deedy. "It’s just 
as I thought,” he added, with some apparent 
satisfaction. "It was a case of deception all 
round. I have been up against such things 
before. The girl’s been duped.” 

"And what do you make of this ?” I asked. 

"Make of it ?” 

"Yes ! What do you think ?” 

"Why, it’s very simple. Neither one had 
very much money, and after getting hitched 
they made that remarkable discovery about 
themselves — they hadn ’t a cent !” 

"They’re married, no doubt,” I returned, 
heavily. "They found things out quickly 1” 

"Certainly ! Such discoveries always come 
after marriage. It takes marriage to bring 
’em out! And I fancy Little Chris keeping 
up a deception like this very long ! Oh, yes 1 
Perhaps so !” 

"What— what will we do ?” I asked. 

"Do ?” Deedy turned about to me savagely. 
"Do ? I’ll show her what I’ll do. I’ll do noth- 
ing! Wire fare at once!— in the most 
unconcerned manner possible! She didn’t 
think of that when she jumped out at the ex- 


75 


^ STAGE BABY 


pense of crippling the show for a week!” 

I said nothing more. I went sadly to my 
room to think it out by myself; but, do what 
I would I could not bring myself to the task 
of undressing, for I thought of Little Chris: 
perhaps she was in dire distress at this very 
moment. It was impossible to go to bed. I 
slipped down stairs again and rapped at the 
manager’s door. He was enjoying his even- 
ing smoke before he retired. ”Deedy, ” I said, 
"I must go, and find that girl !” 

Deedy looked up, in surprise. "Are you 
crazy, Jopp ?” he asked. 

"I must find Little Chris, Deedy, ” I told him. 

He made no further objection, but he 
slipped something, that seemed significant in 
my coat pocket as I went by. "Here’s some- 
thing— for her!” he said, brokenly; "take it.” 

I bolted, and grabbed a train that was just 
pulling out, and which would land me, inside 
of an hour, at the address given on the 
telegram. As the train pulled into the town 
I was impatiently gazing out at the car 
window, and— would you believe it ?— the 
very first object to get my eye was a full 
length representation of no less a distinguished 
personage than Gale Twom himself ! Well, I 
nearly fell over backward. I just naturally 
pinched myself to see that I had properly 
kept awake while riding, and it was no dream ! 


76 


^ STAGE BABY 

As the train came to a standstill I was the 
first to hit the platform. I made a dive back 
to the next car, and, sure enough, with my 
hands clasped tightly about his arms, there 
stood Twom— and there stood myself, looking 
sternly into his face. I had nabbed him with 
his foot on the first step, and he didn’t look a 
real friend to me as he twisted himself about 
to get a proper squint at my familiar face. 
But, I made out, in that one instant, that he 
had been drinking. He had soused himself 
for some reason or other, though I had never 
seen him real drunk before. I also made out 
that something further was wrong, the which 
I could not fathom were I to get into the 
puzzle business for a hundred years. After 
a second of a sort of haughty indifference on 
his part he took his foot from the step, and 
turned squarely about to me. I know that he 
was genuinely shocked at seeing me there at 
that time of night. 

"Well ?” he asked. 

"Just a moment,” I returned. "You cannot 
take that train to-night, Twom ! Come with 
me ! I want to know where Little Chris is ?” 

For a moment he was all at sea; but he 
quickly recovered himself, and, with a half 
drunken swagger, he replied: "Come over 
and put up the drinks, and I’ll tell you where 
she is. If you don’t—” he snapped his fingers; 


77 


^ STAGE BABY 


and I knew enough about the character of 
the man to understand that he could be as 
reticent as a dead pig, if he set out. So, we 
went over to the back entrance of a hotel 
which he knew the lay of and found ourselves 
in the midst of a select bunch of as convivial 
spirits as ever graced the front of a bar at 
midnight. 

Then Twom gave me to understand that he 
had deserted his wretched wife after about 
one hour of wedded anxiety that brought 
him to a realization of the mistake he had 
made; for both had been drinking that day 
Quite heavily. It also, very strange to relate, 
dawned upon the muddled mind of Little 
Chris, too, that a huge mistake had been 
culminated, the import of which, of course, 
was this: when we take upon our shoulders 
matrimonial alliances, of whatever manner, 
there is the unperceived ghost of a something 
in the nature of reticence in each contracting 
party, which has been for a time kept from 
the view of the other, and which must be met 
with for the first time. The woman who has 
hid her many faults during all the days of 
courtship, the man who has a dark shadow 
which he has hitherto always kept behind 
him— never suffering it for a moment to be 
seen— now suddenly are brought face to face 
with the realization that all restraint is past. 


78 


^ STAGE BABY 


and out crops the accumulation of unfavor- 
able characteristics that have previously been 
hid by the veil of deception. I have it to 
relate that before Little Chris and Twom had 
been married twenty minutes they had their 
first quarrel, a drunken quarrel, no doubt; 
but still a quarrel. The groom was broke— 
the wedding fee had done that— because 
Twom had never been known to have a cent 
left from one salary day to another. He, 
therefore, depended upon the bride, who, 
likewise, was blessed with the common gift 
of nothing. ' That provoked Twom most 
extensively; and when they came out from 
the office of the Justice, the bride was a trifle 
peevish. As the weather was cold for the 
time of year, she drew her light coat about 
her, with a little shiver, and they wended 
their way up the street in an aimless fashion. 
That was their honeymoon. Actors are a 
peculiar lot ; they become so from constant 
petting, and being spoiled by an indulgent 
public. The feelings of either party in this 
unlucky transaction were not to be trifled 
with. To be without money in a strange 
town was not to be made light of. Each one 
had imagined the other to have plenty. 
Neither one had a cent. Little Chris wanted 
her husband to wire home to his family for 
aid, since she had every evidence in the 


79 


z/l STAGE BABY 


world that he came from wealthy people. 

"And, wasn't that nerve, now ?” inquired 
Twom, looking up at me with a languid stare. 
"Wire home to my people, indeed !” he added, 
with a sneer. "WTiat do you suppose they’d 
say when they knew I’d went and hitched 
myself up to a gin dope— of her grade ?” I 
winced at this. I could have pelted him 
heartily for daring to discredit the position 
of the girl. "Don’t you suppose I’d get the 
merry ha-ha for my trouble? They were 
never in love with my going on the stage, 
anyway. You can guess at the sympathy I’d 
get ! I thought she had something 1 Pooh !” 

I made out then and there that Twom treat- 
ed his new wife contemptuously, and it galled 
her returning sense of pride. She had just 
sufficient funds about her to send a wire on 
to the show; and this she made up her mind 
to do if things got to staring her in the face 
too badly. Twom wanted to telegraph for 
her; but this she refused to do. She had a 
high spirit, had the girl, and when they had 
walked about aimlessly for a time, they found 
themselves in a sort of park, where they had 
a violent quarrel all by themselves; and then 
and there Twom did his character justice by 
knocking her down against a tree and leaving 
her there to her fate. This he told me with 
an air of pride, together with the fact that 


80 


^ STAGE BABY 


he had borrowed money from a friend he had 
looked up in town, which left him all right. 

"And where is she now ?” I asked. 

"Drunk — somewhere,” he returned, with a 
sneer. "No doubt she’d have sense enough 
to wire Deedy. I don’t care where she is !” 

He turned away with a hearty oath. I said 
nothing more, I heard nothing more from the 
villain; but I as promptly knocked him down, 
and kicked him out into the back yard, and 
made my way out before anybody could come 
between us. I had gotten from him all the 
information concerning Little Chris that I 
knew was possible; so I started in upon a 
dismal and yet hopeful round of the streets 
with the firm belief that I should yet find 
her. But where ? That was the question. 

It was now past two o’clock in the morn- 
ing. A clock in the immediate neighborhood 
struck the hour. It struck three, and I was 
still going my wretched rounds. I knew that 
Little Chris had come up from the park to 
telegraph; but, I commenced to think that, 
after all, perhaps the parks were the places 
for me to venture upon in my strange quest. 
They were a dismal lot, these parks, at this 
time of year: damp, and cold and deserted. 
I was buttoned up to the chin as I walked, 
and so did not mind the cold, going back and 
forth, back and forth, with the dogged con- 


81 


^ STAGE BABY 


viction uppermost in my fancy that she was 
somewhere walking about, too, only not quite 
so well prepared. And so I went on. Once 
or twice I turned to retrace my way back to a 
hotel; but just as sure as I had taken a dozen 
paces in this direction my mind would gradu- 
ally drift into a vortex of strange conceptions, 
the center of which was the dilemma of Little 
Chris; and I would turn slowly about again. 
I did this once; I did it, perhaps, three times, 
each time getting me into newer territory in 
one of the parks. And, presently, came the 
reward. On a seat directly in front of me 
reclined the dim figure of something— some- 
thing that thrilled me with pleasurable awe. 
I hesitated, but only for a moment. My heart 
told me this same figure was no less than 
the Little Chris I sought ! 

No need to tell the sense of love that it 
was otherwise. My burden of the night 
seemed to roll from me at once. In another 
second I was beside her; but she was already 
senseless from drink, and the bitter cold of 
the night. Not one of my entreaties were 
recognized; but I was so very, very glad to 
be there on that memorable night ! 

So glad to be able to take that dear, silent 
form from such a cold berth, and to just have 
the excuse for wrapping her about with my 
great coat, while I held her to my heart. 


82 


PART V 


A RETURN ENGAGEMENT 

Little Chris was very badly used up as a 
result of her neglect and exposure. I took 
her back to a warm, comfortable hotel and 
had medical attendance immediately. Of 
course I didn’t imagine it to be anything 
serious at the time, and so left her for the 
night; but, what my observations were you 
can well surmise when, the following morn- 
ing, I learned she had grown decidedly worse. 

I telegraphed at once to Deedy. I briefly 
told him of the state of affairs, and asked 
permission to stay over. Twenty minutes 
later I received an answer telling me to 
remain with her as long as she desired assist- 
ance; also to bring her safely back to the 
show again. It was very evident that Deedy 
had changed his mind, I now concede him 
to be the best manager of performers in the 
world: which he was. 

But, as misfortune would have it— by not 
coming to us alone — in spite of our vigilance 
and care, my dear patient grew alarmingly 
worse. The morning after I had found her 
she was able to speak to us in a whisper; but 
now she appeared to remain in a deep stupor, 
except to turn from side to side and wearily 


zA STAGE BABY 


moan. There seemed to be for me a peculiar 
joy in thus being able to care for her, despite 
the fact that she was already another man’s 
wife. She grew so decidedly thin and pallid, 
too, that had I not seen her every hour of the 
twenty-four, I never would have recognized 
in her the bright, bewitching Little Chris of 
the old days. Then she took another turn, a 
day or so later, and from the dreadful silence 
to which we had grown accustomed, she would 
babble incoherently about things connected 
with the show. Through it all she seemed 
to be prompting; for she would suddenly turn 
her face to the wall and murmer, "Quite 
right, Jopp; quite right!” And a moment 
later, "Look out for the right entrance- 
backward, you know; and the cue— don’t for- 
get the cue— 'it is very evident that the duke 
is considerably attached to our young friend, 
who is extremely gracious and amiable.’ ” 
Once she started up a couple of lines from 
"The Mikado,” in a poor, weak, piping voice, 
that was quite pitiful to hear : 

" 'We shall know better by and by. 

But youth, of course, must have it’s fling; 

So pardon us. 

So pardon us.’” 

Then she would open her eyes, and with a 
set stare gaze into my face vacantly for a 
moment, and fall to whispering again. 


84 


^ STAGE BABY 


And so I sat beside her, and the show went 
merrily on without us. Of course it went 
merrily on. Did you ever see a show that 
didn’t, even though half the performers had 
taken to the ties with their suit cases ? Some 
way or other it does go. During all this time 
Little Chris never once uttered her husband’s 
name; but, on the contrary, my poor, humble 
self seemed to be everywhere, as in a maze 
before her. She would suddenly pause, in 
the middle of a series of rapid incoherencies, 
and strange sentences, and looking at some 
particular point before her, would articulate, 
"Is that Jopp; there ?” or, "Why does Jopp 
not come ?” And I would reply, leaning well 
over so that she might be able to see my face: 

"I am here. Little Chris. Don’t worry; you 
are not to go on to-night.” (For she continu- 
ally had the impression that the show was 
waiting for her, and she was late.) 

I thought it best to always speak in a real 
stage manner, as though I were at my old 
place by the switch-board; because, I thought, 
too, it had the effect of bringing her to a 
realization of my proximity to her; and I 
really think it did help her some, for she 
would immediately turn her head with a sigh, 
and drop quietly off to sleep again. But the 
stage was always in her mind. 

I rejoiced, a week later, to learn that she 


S3 


■Jl STAGE BABY 


was gradually growing better: slowly, at 
first, but ever progressively. On the morning 
of the ninth day of my stay with her she 
opened her eyes, and I perceived by their 
better and more even illumination that reason 
had returned. On the table were assortments 
of flowers sent every day by different mem- 
bers of the company, which, fortunately, 
several times came very near us in the circuit. 
She gazed at the flowers with a pleased, 
though somewhat mystified expression. 
Finally she spoke: 

"Have you been here all night, Jopp ?” 

"Yes, Little Chris; I have.” 

She viewed the room curiously. Undoubted- 
ly she was endeavoring to place herself amid 
such surroundings, for she suddenly asked 
again, (noting the display of medical require- 
ments arrayed so conspicuously on the table: 

"Who sent the flowers, Jopp ?” 

"They come fresh every day. Little Chris. 
This here particular bunch of roses are from 
Sissy. This bunch of beautiful great blue 
violets are from Deedy. He sent them yester- 
day, but you didn’t know it.” 

"Every day ?” She endeavored to rise, but 
I, gently held her back. 

"Yes, Little Chris; you have been sick a 
long time. Don’t worry yourself by trying 
to think how long. God has been very good 


86 


c/f STAGE BABY 


to you. ril tell you all about it, sometime. 
Just rest easy, you know.” 

"Rest easy, Jopp ? Why it was only last 
night— I was married— where is he?” she 
asked, putting her hand to her head. "Good- 
ness knows — I have slept soundly ! The last 
I remember I was — let me think— where was 
I, Jopp ? Oh, yes— the last I remember I was 
in the park. I must have went to sleep, Jopp. 
I can’t remember. I — I drank some, Jopp.” 

"That was eight days ago, dear little girl, 
and I’ve been with you ever since. You had 
a continuous performance, —with a matinee 
every day ; also fine, crowded houses and big 
prices. But, you’re not to go on to-night, 
you know. You’re to stay right here.” 

"Eight days ago !” she repeated, with some 
consternation, I must confess. She evidently 
suspected something, for she continued look- 
ing at me in a mysterious sort of way until 
the arrival of the mail brought another sub- 
stantial money order from Deedy. This 
money came every day, and was always above 
enough to provide for every want and comfort 
of both the patient and myself. 

Two days later I recounted to her all that 
had transpired, as I had learned it fromTwom; 
which brought the tears to her eyes more 
than once. Then I read several of her letters 
to her — all from members of the show — and I 


87 


^ STAGE BABY 


took a particular relish, I may add, in remark- 
ing that I had not received any word from 
him: dwelling upon the pronoun with empha- 
sis, that she might the better understand me. 

"No, Jopp,” she responded, turning her 
face away, "I do not expect any, either. It 
isn’t likely he will make any inquiries.” 

There was another spell of silence. By and 
by I said, as if struck by an idea : 

"Oh, ho, Mrs. Twom — it seems to me that 
I am taking a tremendous amount of liberty 
with another man’s wife ! But, please allow 
me to emphatically declare that I am acting 
quite under instructions from the show — to 
bring you back again, well and strong. Eh ? 
IS that all right, now ? Is it, Mrs. Twom ?” 

"Oh, Jopp ” 

"Now that I have done my duty, and seen 
the stage all set for the piece, it behooves me, 
as an honorable man, to take myself off to 
Deedy and make my report— seeing that you 
did not live up to your contract which called 
for two weeks notice before quitting. How- 
ever, if you were still Little Chris, (as you 
once were, you know,) all might be different; 
but, seeing that you are another man’s wife — 
another man's wife — you know — ” I dwelt 
upon this last with terrible emphasis — "I don’t 
think I can afford to — to ” 

"Oh, Jopp ! don’t, don’t !” she wailed, put- 


88 


^ STAGE BAB Y 


ting her hand to her eyes. "It doesn’t seem 
like you to talk that way, Jopp. Oh, I didn’t 
mean it, really and truly ! And I have been 
so happy here— so happy; because I have 
made a wonderful discovery, while I dreamed 
of you asleep, and watched you while awake. 
Tell me, Jopp,” she cried, imploringly, —"tell 
me that you came here a little on your own 
account, Jopp, and I shall be happy !” 

I told her, in a roguish sort of way, that 
it was just a tiny, tiny bit ; and that when I 
was no longer in her life I hoped she would 
be very happy with Mr. Twom; because he 
was rich, and I was only a poor actor, at best. 
Besides that, Twom came from such a very 
excellent family. He was a gentleman. 

She edged a little nearer on the bed toward 
me, and, putting out her trembling hand, 
laid it on my arm. 

"Jopp, you will never leave me — never, 
never; will you ?” she asked. She looked up 
into my face with all her woman’s soul. 

"Leave you. Little Chris ?” 

"Promise me you never will, Jopp, and 
when I am better and strong enough to go to 
work again, I will live only for you, Jopp, 
dear, and we will always work in the same 
company together. Jopp, I do love you; I 
always loved you, Jopp. Make me a promise 
that you will never leave me, Jopp !” 


89 


^ STAGE BABY 


And, with my face on the pillow beside 
her, I told her that I never had the slightest 
intention of leaving her until she was well 
enough to choose betwixt her husband and 
I— but I didn’t proceed further, because she 
was crying. And, do you know, I actually 
cried with her ! 

I sat down that night and wrote a letter to 
Deedy, telling him everything. I gave him 
to understand that we would be back with 
the show in a few days, because the condition 
of my patient had wonderfully improved, 
backed up by her splendid vitality; and her 
progress was consistently rapid and well de- 
fined. A few days later there came to us 
another substantial money order. 

When she was sufficiently well enough to 
go down to the parlor and touch the piano it 
pleased me to see she had made such rapid 
progress. But, there was a something about 
it that did not at all suit Little Chris; and it 
set her to worrying. One day she started to 
sing. There was a hopeless sound to it that 
was decidedly wrong. Her face all at once 
became haggard and drawn. 

"Jopp,” she said, sadly, "there is something 
peculiar about it. I can’t make it out.” 

I readily assented. But I calmed her with 
the assurance that it was the fault of her 
system. Supposed she tried putting it off for 


90 


^ STAGE BABY 


a day or so and recruit up just a little more. 

She agreed; but there was a something that 
worried her, nevertheless, as the days went 
by. And when she tried again it was only to 
recognize the fact that she had lost entirely 
the control of her vocal powers. The music 
of her voice was gone forever ! It was never 
to come back again ! I was sure of that ! 

I know that my dear girl was hourly plunged 
into a vortex of ungovernable woe. I sug- 
gested a specialist, and this being the only 
thing now to be done, she consented. I told 
her, please God, that if money would bring 
back her sweet voice it should not be spared; 
and my savings for some years could readily 
back it up by simply touching the wires for a 
cool— well, it didn’t matter. All I can say is 
that I was bound up, soul and body, in my 
hearts only love, and that I would see her to 
the other side of this dark chaos which made 
her life sad. Despite her calm attitude I 
could see that she was making a brave stand 
for the best possible face on the matter. We 
went again and again to the specialist. 

One day she went alone, and when she re- 
turned to where I was writing a letter to 
Deedy, my heart gave a great flutter; for in 
her face I read disappointment and defeat as 
plainly as though she had spoken it all. She 
sank down upon a chair, her eyes perfectly 


91 


^ STAGE BABY 


free from tears, and looked calmly up at me. 

"Jopp, I can never-never sing again !” 

In some unaccountable manner I was sudden- 
ly rendered speechless; but, a great warm 
love seemed to overpower me; and, in that 
one precious moment I realized at once that 
this girl, the wife of another, was a hundred 
times dearer to me than ever! Oh, the beauty 
and the grandeur of that one sublime, though 
earthly moment, when I could feel, as I did, 
that there was nothing more to come betwixt 
my love and I till death, and that she was to 
live now, without a single jealous fear of 
mine, in my soul forever ! Yes, it was all too 
wonderful to be real. With the weight of my 
overwhelming love pushing me forward I 
hastened to her side and clasped her to my 
breast. 

"Little Chris— my Little Chris ! If you had 
returned to tell me that you had been blinded 
for life, that your tongue had grown useless 
in your head, that the darkness which had 
been over you had become intensified into 
fathomless night that left your life a blank 
and in dismay until eternity; — if all this 
should happen to you, I would still love you ! 
I would still adore you; you would continually 
be the light of my life, and I would gladly be 
your tongue and your eyes. Little Chris, if I 
could think for one moment that I was the sun 


92 


^ STAGE BABY 


of your existence. Oh, light of my very life, 
I never loved you as I love you now, and all 
the pain you have given me in the past is 
gladly and freely forgotten— in the realization 
that you are now mine forever ! Little Chris- 
dear Little Chris— let me now be everything 
for you. Let me sing for you, and act for you, 
and we’ll draw up the contract— good every 
season of our lives and no lay-offs or half-pay 
weeks. This is the show of my life. Little 
Chris, and you are wanted for the star!” 


And so, of course, we got down to the con- 
tract for a period not under a life-time, at the 
least. It was the old, two-people act that we 
put on in the course of time; for we were 
married. Well, that was very evident, I must 
confess, from that night when I found her in 
the park, and I had taken her in my arms to 
shelter and comfort and love. We have seen 
or heard nothing more from Twom from that 
day to this, nor from any of his rich relatives, 
either. 

We were married in a quiet, simple manner 
that was simplicity itself, just as I have 
always wished to be married — to the frag- 
rance of climbing roses, and a beautiful sun- 
set that glistened in through the half latticed 
windows. And if we could have had any more 


93 


^ STAGE BABY 


delicate or charming music, (fresh from the 
orchestration by Nature) than the joyful 
carols of the sunset robins, or could have 
performed before a pastoral scene painted 
expressly for us (also by a master hand) in 
the wide range of western sky— I say, could 
we have had anything more delicate or charm- 
ing to start us on our life tour, then I want 
to be instructed in the art of putting on a 
masterpiece. I’ve handled a great many 
gorgeous set pieces in my day, and I’ve trod 
the boards above the best musicians in the 
land; but, someway or another they sink into 
insignificance when compared with the dra- 
matic climax of that one day. 

I am only a plain, everyday sort of an actor, 
with no stir in sight, nor any future assured, 
for my specialty, as you know, has always 
been to care for the merely mechanical part 
of the stage, and doing an odd part now and 
then to help fill out; but, in narrating my 
little homely event I have simply entrusted to 
the pages of this book the strongest assertion 
that the master philosopher of the ages has 
given utterance to: "The greatest of these is 
LOVE !” Take it how you will, but my logical 
conclusion is that there is only ONE love: 
and that is the love that rules the drift of the 
world. 

Prove it ? Listen. Nothing could have ex- 


94 


^ STAGE BABY 


ceeded my rarest of joys, when, upon a morn- 
ing in September during a period of two years 
housekeeping on a small scale in the Metropo- 
lis, where we were both performing in stock, 
I was called in to view a small and dainty 
miniature of my Little Chris, snugly tucked 
away in the capacious depth of a trundle bed. 
I repeat, that was happiness complete, despite 
the fact that you and I have always heard 
that actors are never really happy ! 

Well, I named her Little Chris, of course. 
Why shouldn’t I ? And say, I had almost 
forgotten to add that she emulated her dear 
mother by "going-on” in arms just two months 
later to a day. 

We two are still in opera ; and we dearly 
love the profession. Little Chris’s specialty 
being comedy it does not necessarily call for 
any special vocal qualifications on her part 
beyond a line of work that would delight an 
audience. We know every word and note of 
all the light standards of the day; and I would 
like to point out to you some night, as I stand 
by the switchboard, with the audience grow- 
ing more and more delighted as a curtain 
scene proceeds, a dainty figure that seems in 
my eyes to float like a fairy over the boards, 
who bewitchingly smiles at me whenever our 
eyes meet, and who never fails to ask me in 
a whisper, whenever she comes to my side of 


95 


^ STAGE BABY 


the stage, "how she is working to-night ?”— 
and proudly tell you that there is my heart, 
my life and my romance all bound up in a 
dainty fluttering of lacework — still the same 
beautiful creature that I first met one winter’s 
night on the Hudson. 

Nor did I ever have occasion to finish that 
memorable lecture I had begun away back at 
a certain Christmas matinee in St. Louis. 

And I am positive I never will. 


THE END 



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